Scientists have found that Ilamas' blood can help fight against HIV/AIDS in a new study.
After initial disappointment that HIV vaccine candidates were unable to elicit neutralizing antibodies, researchers found that some HIV-infected individuals did produce them. The current challenge is therefore to find safe and effective vaccine formulations (as opposed to HIV infection) that trigger the development of neutralizing antibodies that can recognize and prevent infection with all or most circulating HIV subtypes.
Screening for HIV/AIDS Infection
Efficient screening and better drugs help reduce the prevalence of HIV infection. A number of tests like ELIZA & Western Blot are used for screening HIV.
Llamas are a notable exception when it comes to neutralizing antibodies, as besides the common four-chain antibodies they also produce smaller ones made up of only two of the four chains. Robin Weiss, an HIV expert, and Theo Verrips, a llama antibody expert, therefore started working with this unconventional research animal.
Laura McCoy (working with Weiss at University College London, UK) led an international group of researchers to test immunization protocols and the resulting immune response in llamas. Having previously identified one particular HIV neutralizing llama antibody, for this study the researchers immunized two additional llamas and identified a total of three new neutralizing antibodies. The four HIV neutralizing llama antibodies target different parts of the CD4-binding site of the virus, and the researchers could show that when used in combination, rather than interfering with each other, they are more potent and can neutralize all of the 60 different HIV strains tested.
![AIDS/HIV - Clinical Features]( "AIDS/HIV - Clinical Features")
Encyclopedia section of medindia gives general info about HIV Clinical Features
The results suggest that the neutralizing antibodies were not part of the pre-immunization repertoire, nor were they detectable after the first vaccination round. Rather, they were generated as immune cells repeatedly encountered the vaccine and responded by maturing specific antibodies that can recognize it.
Their results, they say, "show that immunization can induce potent and broadly neutralizing antibodies in llamas with features similar to human antibodies, and provide a framework to analyze the effectiveness of immunization protocols."
The study is published in PLOS Pathogens.
Source: ANI
AIDS/HIV - Clinical Features
Encyclopedia section of medindia gives general info about HIV Clinical Features
The results suggest that the neutralizing antibodies were not part of the pre-immunization repertoire, nor were they detectable after the first vaccination round. Rather, they were generated as immune cells repeatedly encountered the vaccine and responded by maturing specific antibodies that can recognize it.
Their results, they say, "show that immunization can induce potent and broadly neutralizing antibodies in llamas with features similar to human antibodies, and provide a framework to analyze the effectiveness of immunization protocols."
The study is published in PLOS Pathogens.
Source: ANI
AIDS/HIV - Common Opportunistic Infections
Kaposi sarcoma develops below the skin surfaces or in mucous membranes of mouth, nose or anus and appears as lumps
 |
Recommended Reading
Latest AIDS/HIV News
In India, annual HIV infections and AIDS-related deaths continue to drop. Between 2010 and 2021, new HIV infections dropped by 46%.
Globally, all countries have promised to end AIDS by 2030, for which it is essential to safeguard individuals living with HIV to complete HIV care services.
How can you prevent HIV while breastfeeding? A monthly vaginal ring containing the antiretroviral drug dapivirine safely prevents HIV infection while breastfeeding.
Union Minister of State for Health Bharti Pravin Pawar had said that the government is providing free lifelong antiretroviral (ARV) medicines for people living with HIV.
Dr. Korosi said the goal to end AIDS by 2030 is badly off track, as inequalities, discrimination, and disregard for human rights are hampering our progress.
